Must-see Mother’s Day Weekend Movie: Life of the Party

Life of the Party

If you get to choose your own Mother’s Day gift, why not go see a movie? Escape reality, physically and mentally, for a couple of hours and laugh ’til your sides hurt watching “Life of the Party”. The film, starring the always-hilarious Melissa McCarthy, is a must-see for moms! It’s coming out May 11, 2018 – just in time for Mother’s Day!

Melissa plays a middle-aged mother, Deanna, thrust into a new life as her husband asks for a divorce. She regrets never finishing her degree and takes the opportunity to start anew as a college senior. Her daughter, Maddie, attends the same school and awkwardness ensues. Seeing her daughter and her friends at parties, the sorority house and in classes, Deanna and Maddie take turns being embarrassed. While the premise is a bit predictable, the constant laughs are all you need from a comedy film.

Here’s the preview, in case you haven’t seen it yet:

Familiar Faces:

Maya Rudolph as Christine

Maya Rudolph plays Deanna’s best friend, Christine. She’s best known for her time on Saturday Night Live and another film with Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids.

Gillian Jacobs as Helen

You might recognize the sorority sister, Helen – played by Gillian Jacobs, from Community, Walk of Shame, or The Box.

Chris Parnell as the archaeology professor

Chris Parnell, of SNL fame, plays the archaeology professor in the film. He’s also known for the funny movies Walk Hard, 21 Jump Street, and Anchorman.

Matt Walsh and Julie Bowen as Dan and Marcie

Matt Walsh and Julie Bowen portray Deanna’s ex-husband and his new love interest. You might recognize him from Veep or Into the Storm, while she’s been seen in Modern Family and Happy Gilmore.

…And a cameo by Christina Aguilera!

Funniest Parts:

I watched “Life of the Party” with a friend, and while we each laughed quite a bit, there was one scene for each of us that nearly caused us to fall out of our seats from laughter. I want to share those two moments with you, without giving away too much of the storyline, of course!

Deanna is a very kind and thoughtful person. Even when provoked by a “mean girl” she doesn’t succumb to catty behavior. She does have some weaknesses though, including a disabling fear of public speaking. As you might expect, she must deliver an oral presentation for a final grade in her archaeology class. You can feel her anxiety in this scene as the clock ticks on and she fails spectacularly and effectively delivering her speech. The whole theatre was cracking up as Melissa McCarthy perfectly lands the comedic timing of the sweating and bumbling.

My personal favorite part of the film was this dinner scene. Deanna feels a bit awkward as a 5th wheel as she joins her friends for a dinner party shortly after her divorce with no date. Unbeknownst to them, her ex-husband and his new lover happen to be dining at the same restaurant. There is a big, and absolutely hilarious, secret revealed just after their waiter arrives.

Bottom Line

I would recommend this movie. Some of the scenarios feel a bit predictable, but in a comedy movie I’m not looking for groundbreaking material. I want to laugh! And this certainly accomplishes that. If you enjoy Melissa McCarthy, and who doesn’t, you’ll love this next film she’s adding to her resume.  There were some surprises and the characters were well-cast and well-played. Ben Falcone, McCarthy’s husband, does a great job directing.

Please share your thoughts with us after you see the movie in the comments below!

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Disclosure:

I had the opportunity to see this movie at no cost before it opened in order to write this review. The opinions included are my own.